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Eric A Strom

Publications and source records attributed to Eric A Strom.

50 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Positive surgical margins and ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence predict disease-specific survival after breast-conserving therapy.

BACKGROUND: The current study identified determinants of systemic recurrence and disease-specific survival (DSS) in patients with early-stage breast carcinoma treated with breast-conserving surgery and radiation therapy (breast-conserving therapy, or BCT). METHODS: The study population consisted of 1,043 consecutive women with Stages I or II breast carcinoma who underwent BCT between 1970 and 1994. Clinical and pathologic characteristics evaluated included age, tumor size, tumor grade, estrogen and progesterone receptor status, surgical margins, axillary lymph node involvement, and use of adjuvant therapy. RESULTS: At a median follow-up time of 8.4 years, 127 patients (12%) had developed an ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR), and 184 patients (18%) had developed a systemic recurrence. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, tumor size greater than 2 cm, positive lymph nodes, lack of adjuvant tamoxifen therapy, and positive margins (odds ratio [OR], 3.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-12.3; P = 0.034) were predictors of systemic recurrence. When IBTR was added into the model, adjuvant therapy and surgical margins were not independent predictors; however, IBTR was an independent predictor of systemic recurrence (IBTR vs. no IBTR; OR, 6.2; 95% CI, 3.1-12.3; P < 0.001). The 10 year DSS rate after BCT was 87%. On multivariate Cox proportional hazards model analysis, the following factors were independent predictors of poor DSS: tumor size greater than 2 cm (vs. < or = 2 cm; relative risk [RR], 2.3; 95% CI, 1.2-4.3; P = 0.010), negative progesterone receptor status (vs. positive; RR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.4-5.1; P = 0.003), positive margins (vs. negative; RR, 3.9; 95% CI, 1.4-11.5; P = 0.011), and IBTR (vs. no IBTR; RR, 5.5; 95% CI, 2.8-11.0; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Positive surgical margins and IBTR are predictors of systemic recurrence and disease-specific survival after BCT. Aggressive local therapy is necessary to ensure adequate surgical margins and to minimize IBTR.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Radiation therapy as an adjuvant treatment after sentinel lymph node surgery for breast cancer.

Radiation therapy is an effective treatment of micrometastatic disease involving lymph nodes. Correspondingly, radiation may be an important adjuvant treatment for selected patients who undergo sentinel lymph node surgery. The specific cohorts for whom radiation maybe of benefit include those at risk for a false-negative surgery, patients with a positive sentinel lymph node who elect to forgo an axillary dissection, and patients with drainage to the internal mammary lymph nodes. For these patients, radiation treatment fields must be specifically designed to include the appropriate nodal regions within the target treatment volumes.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Sphincter-sparing local excision and adjuvant radiation for anal-rectal melanoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome and toxicity of a sphincter-sparing treatment strategy in the management of patients with anal-rectal melanoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1989 and 2000, 23 patients with invasive anal-rectal melanoma were managed with sphincter-sparing surgical resection and adjuvant radiation. Surgery consisted of primary local excision, as well as dissection for patients with documented regional nodal disease. Adjuvant radiation was delivered using a hypofractionated regimen of 30 Gy in five fractions over 2.5 weeks. Adjuvant systemic therapy was delivered to nine patients: cytotoxic chemotherapy in seven and immunotherapy in two. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 32 months, 15 patients had relapsed and 15 patients had died. The actuarial 5-year overall, disease-specific, disease-free, and distant metastasis-free survival rates were 31%, 36%, 37%, and 35%, respectively. The actuarial 5-year local and regional nodal control rates were 74% and 84%, respectively. No patient had locoregional failure as the sole site of failure and no patient required salvage abdominoperineal resection (APR). By univariate analysis, patients with nodal disease at presentation had a decreased actuarial 5-year disease-specific (0% v 45%, P =.004), disease-free (0% v 45%, P <.001), and distant metastasis-free survival (0% v 42%, P <.001). The actuarial complication-free survival rate was 71%. Two patients developed mild scrotal edema (grade 1), and four patients developed moderate proctitis requiring prolonged medical management (grade 2). CONCLUSION: Sphincter-sparing local excision and adjuvant radiation is well tolerated and can effectively control local-regional disease while avoiding the functional morbidity of APR.

Adult↗

Classifying local disease recurrences after breast conservation therapy based on location and histology: new primary tumors have more favorable outcomes than true local disease recurrences.

BACKGROUND: To distinguish true local recurrences (TR) from new primary tumors (NP) and to assess whether this distinction has prognostic value in patients who develop ipsilateral breast tumor recurrences (IBTR) after breast-conserving surgery and radiotherapy. METHODS: Between 1970 and 1994, 1339 patients underwent breast-conserving surgery at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center for ductal carcinoma in situ or invasive carcinoma. Of these patients, 139 (10.4%) had an IBTR as the first site of failure. For the 126 patients with clinical data available for retrospective review, we classified the IBTR as a TR if it was located within 3 cm of the primary tumor bed and was of the same histologic subtype. All other IBTRs were designated NP. RESULTS: Of the 126 patients, 48 (38%) patients were classified as NP and 78 (62%) as TR. Mean time to disease recurrence was 7.3 years for NP versus 5.6 years for TR (P = 0.0669). The patients with NP had improved 10-year rates of overall survival (NP 77% vs. TR 46%, P = 0.0002), cause-specific survival (NP 83% vs. TR 49%, P = 0.0001), and distant disease-free survival (NP 77% vs. TR 26%, P < 0.0001). Patients with NP more often developed contralateral breast carcinoma (10-year rate: NP 29% vs. TR 8%, P = 0.0043), but were less likely to develop a second local recurrence after salvage treatment of the first IBTR (NP 2% vs. TR 18%, P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with NP had significantly better survival rates than those with TR, but were more likely to develop contralateral breast carcinoma. Distinguishing new breast carcinomas from local disease recurrences may have importance in therapeutic decisions and chemoprevention strategies. This is because patients with new carcinomas had significantly lower rates of metastasis than those with local disease recurrence, but were more likely to develop contralateral breast carcinomas.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Age as a predictor of outcome for women with DCIS treated with breast-conserving surgery and radiation: The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center experience.

PURPOSE: To analyze the long-term outcome of breast conservation therapy in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in a single institution and to analyze the prognostic importance, if any, of young patient age. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The hospital records of 150 patients with DCIS treated with surgical excision and radiotherapy at our institution between 1980 and 1997 were retrospectively reviewed. For most of the patients, intraoperative specimen radiographs or postoperative mammograms were available for use in assessing that an adequate surgical resection had been performed. The median patient age was 53 years (range 32-81), with 13% of patients or=40 years, p = 0.39). In all cases of local recurrence, patients underwent surgery with or without chemotherapy, and disease control was achieved. CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrate high rates of long-term overall survival, disease-specific survival, and local control in patients with DCIS of the breast treated conservatively with segmental mastectomy and radiotherapy. On the basis of the excellent long-term local control and 100% disease-specific survival rates, we found that patient age does not affect the outcome if the margins are clear. Continued studies in young patients treated with breast conservative therapy for DCIS are needed.

Adult↗

Locoregional treatment outcomes for inoperable anthracycline-resistant breast cancer.

PURPOSE: To assess the therapeutic outcomes and treatment-related morbidity of patients treated with radiation for inoperable breast cancer resistant to anthracycline-containing primary chemotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We analyzed the medical records of breast cancer patients treated on five consecutive institutional trials who had been designated as having inoperable locoregional disease after completion of primary chemotherapy, without evidence of distant metastases at diagnosis. The cohort for this analysis was 38 (4.4%) of 867 patients enrolled in these trials. Kaplan-Meier statistics were used for survival analysis, and prognostic factors were compared using log-rank tests. The median follow-up of surviving patients was 6.1 years. RESULTS: Thirty-two (84%) of the 38 patients were able to undergo mastectomy after radiotherapy. For the whole group, the overall survival rate at 5 years was 46%, with a distant disease-free survival rate of 32%. The 5-year survival rate for patients who were inoperable because of primary disease extent was 64% compared with 30% for those who were inoperable because of nodal disease extent (p = 0.0266). The 5-year rate of locoregional control was 73% for the surgically treated patients and 64% for the overall group. Of the 32 who underwent mastectomy, the 5-year rate of significant postoperative complications was 53%, with 4 (13%) requiring subsequent hospitalization and additional surgical revision. Preoperative radiation doses of >or=54 Gy were significantly associated with the development of complications requiring surgical treatment (70% vs. 9% for doses <54 Gy, p = 0.0257). CONCLUSION: Despite the poorer prognosis of patients with inoperable disease after primary chemotherapy, almost one-half remained alive at 5 years and one-third were free of distant disease after multidisciplinary locoregional management. These patients have high rates of locoregional recurrence after preoperative radiotherapy and mastectomy, and the morbidity associated with this approach may limit dose-escalation strategies. Alternative therapeutic strategies such as novel systemic agents, use of planned myocutaneous repair for closure, or radiation combined with radiosensitizing agents, should be considered in this class of patients.

Adult↗

Pathologic tumor size and lymph node status predict for different rates of locoregional recurrence after mastectomy for breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant versus adjuvant chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: To compare the pathologic factors associated with postmastectomy locoregional recurrence (LRR) in breast cancer patients not receiving radiation who were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NEO) vs. adjuvant chemotherapy (ADJ). METHODS AND MATERIALS: We retrospectively analyzed the rates of LRR of subsets of women treated in prospective trials who underwent mastectomy and received chemotherapy but not radiation. These trials were designed to answer chemotherapy questions. There were 150 patients in the NEO group and 1031 patients in the ADJ group. In the NEO group, 55% had clinical Stage IIIA or higher vs. 9% in the ADJ group (p <0.001, chi-square test). RESULTS: Despite the more advanced clinical stage in the NEO group, the pathologic size of the primary tumor and the number of positive lymph nodes (+LNs) were significantly less in the NEO group than in the ADJ group (p <0.001 for both comparisons). However, the 5-year actuarial LRR rate was 27% for the NEO group vs. 15% for the ADJ group (p = 0.001, log-rank). The 5-year risk for LRR was higher in the NEO patients for all pathologic tumor sizes: 0-2 cm (18% vs. 8%, p = 0.011), 2.1-5 cm (36% vs. 15%, p <0.001), and >5 cm (46% vs. 28%, p = 0.028). The risk of LRR by the number of +LNs was similar in the NEO and ADJ groups, except for the subset of patients with > or =4 +LNs (53% vs. 23%, p <0.001). The rates of LRR in the patients with primary tumors measuring < or =2.0 cm and 1-3 +LNs were similar in both groups. However, for the patients with a pathologic tumor size of 2.1-5.0 cm and 1-3 +LNs, the LRR was higher in the NEO group than in the ADJ group (30% vs. 15%, p = 0.016). Most failures in this NEO subgroup had clinical Stage III disease. In a subset of NEO and ADJ patients matched for clinical stage, no significant differences were found in the rates of LRR according to primary tumor size and number of +LNs when these variables were analyzed independently. Again, however, differences were found in the subgroup of patients with tumors pathologically measuring 2.1-5.0 cm with 1-3 +LNs (32% NEO vs. 8% ADJ, p = 0.030). CONCLUSION: The rates of postmastectomy LRR for any pathologic tumor size are higher for patients treated with initial chemotherapy than for patients treated with initial surgery. Radiotherapy should be offered to all patients with > or =4 +LNs, tumor size >5 cm, or clinical Stage IIIA or greater disease, regardless of whether they receive neoadjuvant or postoperative chemotherapy. The information assessing LRR rates in patients with clinical Stage II disease who receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy, particularly if 1-3 lymph nodes remain pathologically involved, is insufficient to determine whether these patients should receive radiotherapy.

Adult↗

Adjuvant irradiation for axillary metastases from malignant melanoma.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcome and treatment-related toxicity for patients with axillary lymph node metastases from malignant melanoma treated with surgery and radiation, with or without systemic therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of 89 consecutive patients with axillary lymph node metastases from malignant melanoma were retrospectively reviewed. All patients underwent axillary dissection and postoperative radiation to a median dose of 30 Gy at 6 Gy/fraction delivered twice weekly. In 3 patients referred with microscopic residual disease, a single boost (4-6 Gy) was given to a reduced field. All but 2 patients were referred because their axillary dissections revealed features believed to predict a 30-50% risk of subsequent axillary recurrence: lymph nodes >/=3 cm in size (54 patients), >/=4 lymph nodes positive (44), the presence of extracapsular extension (69), recurrent disease after initial surgical resection (23), or multiple risk factors (77). Fifty-one patients received systemic therapy before or after radiation therapy. RESULTS: At a median follow-up of 63 months, 47 patients had relapsed and 43 patients had died. The actuarial overall and disease-free survival rates at 5 years were 50% and 46%, respectively. The actuarial axillary control and distant metastasis-free survival rates at 5 years were 87% and 49%, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that the probability of axillary control was inferior when the axillary disease measured >6 cm in size (72% vs. 93%, p = 0.02), the location of the primary tumor was unknown (74% vs. 93%, p = 0.02), the axillary failure occurred within 18 months from diagnosis of the primary melanoma (84% vs. 100%, p = 0.04), or the Breslow thickness was >4 mm (80% vs. 96%, p = 0.04). Additionally, there was an inferior distant metastasis-free and disease-free survival when there were >2 nodes positive for metastatic disease, the primary lesion had a Breslow thickness >4 mm, or the axillary failure occurred within 18 months from diagnosis of the primary melanoma. On multivariate analysis, the significantly inferior distant metastasis-free and disease-free survival seen when >2 nodes were positive or the recurrence occurred within 18 months remained significant. The small number of axillary failures precluded multivariate analysis for axillary control; however, stratified analysis suggested that size >6 cm was the factor most closely associated with subsequent axillary failure. Twenty-six patients developed treatment-related arm edema. Classification according to the severity of edema yielded 5-year actuarial arm edema rates of 21%, 19%, and 1%, for Grade 1 (transient or asymptomatic), Grade 2 (requiring medical intervention), or Grade 3 (requiring surgical intervention) edema, respectively. CONCLUSION: Adjuvant radiation therapy using a hypofractionated regimen resulted in an 87% 5-year axillary control rate, superior to the 50-70% local control achieved with surgery alone for lymph node metastases from melanoma when high-risk features are present. Improvements are needed for patients with bulky nodal masses >6 cm in size. Mild-to-moderate arm edema was common, but manageable. The degree to which radiotherapy adds to the risk of arm edema after axillary dissection alone cannot be addressed in the present analysis.

Adult↗

Predictors of local-regional recurrence after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and mastectomy without radiation.

PURPOSE: To define clinical and pathologic predictors of local-regional recurrence (LRR) for patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and mastectomy without radiation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed the outcome of the 150 breast cancer cases treated on prospective institutional trials with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and mastectomy without postmastectomy radiation. Clinical stage at diagnosis was I in 1%, II in 43%, IIIA in 23%, IIIB in 25%, and IV in 7%. No patient had inflammatory breast cancer. RESULTS: The median follow-up period of surviving patients was 4.1 years. The 5- and 10-year actuarial rates of LRR were both 27%. Pretreatment factors that positively correlated with LRR were increasing T stage (P <.0001) and increasing combined clinical stage (P <.0001). Pathologic and treatment factors that positively correlated with LRR were size of the residual primary tumor (P =.0048), increasing number of involved lymph nodes (P <.0001), and no use of tamoxifen (P =.0013). The LRR rate for the 18 patients with a pathologic complete response of both the primary tumor and lymph nodes (pCR) was 19% (95% confidence interval, 6% to 48%). In a forward stepwise Cox logistic regression analysis, clinical stage IIIB or greater (hazard ratio of 4.5, P <.001), pathologic involvement of four or more lymph nodes (hazard ratio of 2.7, P =.008), and no use of tamoxifen (hazard ratio of 3.9, P =.027) independently predicted for LRR. CONCLUSION: Advanced disease at presentation and positive lymph nodes after chemotherapy predict for clinically significant rates of LRR. Achievement of pCR does not preclude the need for postmastectomy radiation if warranted by the pretreatment stage of the disease.

Adult↗

Long-term complications associated with breast-conservation surgery and radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Breast-conservation surgery plus radiotherapy has become the standard of care for early-stage breast cancer; we evaluated its long-term complications. METHODS: We selected patients treated with surgery and radiotherapy between January 1990 and December 1992 (an era in which standard radiation dosages were used) with follow-up for at least 1 year. Patients were prospectively monitored for treatment-related complications. Median follow-up time was 89 months. RESULTS: A total of 294 patients met the selection criteria. Grade 2 or higher late complications were identified in 29 patients and included arm edema in 13 patients, breast skin fibrosis in 12, decreased range of motion in 4, pneumonitis in 2, neuropathy in 2, fat necrosis in 1, and rib fracture in 1. Arm edema was more common after lumpectomy plus axillary node dissection than after lumpectomy alone. Arm edema occurred in 18% of patients who underwent surgery plus irradiation of the lymph nodes and 10% who underwent surgery without nodal irradiation. CONCLUSIONS: Breast-conservation surgery plus radiotherapy was associated with grade 2 or higher complications in only 9.9% of patients. Half of these complications were attributable to axillary dissection, it is hoped that lower complication rates can be achieved with sentinel lymph node biopsy. Breast-conservation surgery and radiotherapy is associated with grade 2 or greater complications in only 9.9% of patients. Nearly half of these complications are attributable to axillary dissection.

Adult↗

Controversies regarding the use of radiation after mastectomy in breast cancer.

Despite years of clinical study, there are still many unanswered questions regarding postmastectomy radiation. It is clear that radiation therapy plays a critical role in the multidisciplinary management of patients with locally advanced or inflammatory breast cancer. It is also accepted that postmastectomy radiation is not required for most women with noninvasive disease or stage I disease. Randomized clinical trials studying radiation treatments for women with stage II or III breast cancer have shown that the addition of radiation after mastectomy can reduce local-regional recurrence rates, which then improves survival. However, other data have indicated that the risk of local-regional recurrence after mastectomy and chemotherapy is low for patients with small tumors and one to three positive lymph nodes, leading some to question whether postmastectomy radiation is useful for this group. A second controversy regards the sequencing of postmastectomy radiation and breast reconstruction. In this article we discuss these controversies, review the data that are relevant, and provide our institutional approaches to these issues.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Standard for the management of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast (DCIS).

The multidisciplinary guidelines for management of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast from the American College of Radiology, the American College of Surgeons, the College of American Pathology, and the Society of Surgical Oncology have been updated to take into account continuing advances in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. The continued growth in mammographic evaluation and technology has resulted in an increase in the diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast (DCIS). The resulting guidelines provide a framework for clinical decision-making for patients with DCIS based on review of relevant literature, and includes information on patient selection and evaluation, technical aspects of surgical treatment, techniques of irradiation, and follow-up care.

Antineoplastic Protocols↗

Standard for breast conservation therapy in the management of invasive breast carcinoma.

Multidisciplinary guidelines for management of invasive breast carcinoma from the American College of Radiology, the American College of Surgeons, the College of American Pathology, and the Society of Surgical Oncology have been updated to reflect the continuing advances in the diagnosis and treatment of invasive breast cancer. The guidelines provide a framework for clinical decision-making for patients with invasive breast carcinoma based on review of relevant literature and include information on patient selection and evaluation, technical aspects of surgical treatment, techniques of irradiation, and follow-up care.

Antineoplastic Protocols↗